Gordon Granger

Gordon Granger (6 November 1821-10 January 1876) was a Union Army Major-General during the American Civil War. He was famous for his role in the Battle of Chickamauga and later as the Union general who freed the slaves of Galveston, Texas, an event commemorated with the Juneteenth holiday.

Biography
Gordon Granger was born in Joy, Wayne County, New York in 1821, and he graduated from West Point in 1845 before twice being cited for gallantry while serving in the US Army during the Mexican-American War. After the war, he served on the frontiers of Oregon and Texas. When the American Civil War broke out, he became an aide to Samuel D. Sturgis and witnessed the defeat at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, and, on 26 March 1862, he was given command of the cavalry division of the Army of the Mississippi and led it at the Battle of Island Number Ten and the Siege of Corinth. On 17 Setpember 1862, he was given command of Union forces in Kentucky, but his command was later merged into the Army of the Cumberland. He distinguished himself while commanding the reserve corps at the Battle of Chickamauga, and he was given command of IV Corps as a reward. He later distinguished himself in the Chattanooga Campaign and later commanded the XIII Corps during the Battle of Fort Blakely, which led to the fall of Mobile, Alabama. After the war, he was given command of the District of Texas, and his freeing of the slaves of Galveston led to the first Juneteenth holiday. From 29 April 1871 to 10 January 1876, he was in command of the District of New Mexico, and he died in Santa Fe in 1876.